Ever since its launch back in 2004, World of Warcraft has never boasted the most cutting-edge graphics and polygon counts. This was intentional, of course, as to keep the MMO available to a large of a crowd as possible, and Blizzard compensated with a colorful and creative art style.
Yet the game hasn’t remained stuck in 2004. The art style and detail has improved over the years, and with the higher system requirements for the upcoming Battle for Azeroth expansion, World of Warcraft is taking the opportunity to upgrade some of its more lackluster models to a higher fidelity.
Nowhere is this as apparent as with the game’s critters and creatures. YouTuber Bellular put together a video showing the art evolution between old and new beasts, some of which are truly shocking in their difference. Check it out below!
“Pay us more money for chickens with additional polygons.”
I don’t think current-day MMO gaming has ever been summed up so well in one concept.
This is a sad and pathetic attempt from clearly a burned out MMO Player.
The artists and modelers are doing miracles to keep the aesthetic up to date under that unliving monstrosity of an engine, but it’s a battle fought uphill. Looking at the tech specs required for BfA I am afraid they are trading that unmatched scalability that was unique to WoW in the attempt to not look (too) outdated.
Running on a potato was one of the key reasons it got so successful to begin with, folks. Prune abilities if it tickles your fancy, but be careful with pruning technological have-nots for the sake of pixels… they make up a lot of the players base.
I saw a few videos on these last week, it was funny because just the day before as I was playing WoW in Barrens I thought “it is a shame the old mobs are not up to snuff graphically”
As long as I can keep battle pets that have the old low-poly models. All the old model critters are cute and charming, but they don’t play to the far-too-many people who still think graphics are a huge deal in WoW.
A game should always strive to look and run better, of course, but graphics snobbery should have no place in games live live for (ideally) a decade or more.
Very cool. I absolutely love the fact that Blizz is not afraid to upgrade their graphics engine on a regular basis to keep the game relatively on par with the industry.
I dig it.
Looks lovely, makes me want to go back. One thing I don’t like tho, is the style seems to copy Overwatch a bit. Most models look somehow bulky. And a bit faded colors.
.
Awesome!!!!!
what a crap…
Looks great. I would also like to see them update trees and vegetation in old world and expansions. Like Elwyn Forest trees that look very outdated compared to those new models
They already did that.
old pig and tortoise were cuter? i dont like it :P